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Application & Match Systems

There are several different application and match systems. The systems you will use are determined by the specialty to which you are applying. You might have to use more than one type of application or match system. The major ones are described below:

ERAS

The Electronic Residency Application Service Application System (ERAS) is used to distribute application materials to programs. As of this writing, the following specialties will use ERAS:

  1. *Anesthesiology
  2. *Child Neurology (Neurology)
  3. *Dermatology
  4. *Emergency Medicine
  5. *Emergency Medicine/Family Medicine
  6. *Family Medicine
  7. *Family Medicine/Preventive Medicine
  8. *Internal Medicine
  9. *Internal Medicine/Dermatology
  10. *Internal Medicine/Emergency Medicine
  11. *Internal Medicine/Family Practice
  12. *Internal Medicine/Medical Genetics
  13. *Internal Medicine/Neurology
  14. *Internal Medicine/Pediatrics
  15. *Internal Medicine/Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
  16. *Internal Medicine/Preventative Medicine
  17. *Internal Medicine/Psychiatry
  18. *Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (Neurology)
  19. *Neurological Surgery
  20. *Neurology
  21. *Nuclear Medicine
  22. *Obstetrics and Gynecology
  23. *Orthopaedic Surgery
  24. *Otolaryngology
  25. *Pathology-Anatomic & Clinical
  26. *Pediatrics
  27. *Pediatrics/Anesthesiology
  28. *Pediatrics/Dermatology
  29. *Pediatrics/Emergency Medicine
  30. *Pediatrics/Medical Genetics
  31. *Pediatrics/Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
  32. *Pediatrics/Psychiatry/Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
  33. *Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
  34. *Plastic Surgery
  35. *Plastic Surgery-Integrated
  36. *Preventative Medicine (Public Health, General, Occupational and Aerospace)
  37. *Psychiatry
  38. *Psychiatry/Family Practice
  39. Psychiatry/Neurology
  40. *Radiation Oncology
  41. *Radiology-Diagnostic
  42. *Surgery-General
  43. *Thoracic Surgery-Integrated
  44. *Transitional Year
  45. Urology
  46. *Vascular Surgery (Integrated)

* Indicates specialties that participate with the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) 

"Tokens" are electronic codes that allow you to register and access MyERAS (your personal workstation in ERAS) online. Tokens will be available on or about July 1, and will be emailed to you. This number will be used one time only to access the MyERAS application, at which time your AAMC ID Number will be assigned.

In February, the VSAS system sends you your AAMC ID number (this number is also listed on your AMCAS application, which we have on file in the Office of Student Affairs). Once you obtain your token from the OSA, you should go to the ERAS website and click on the MyERAS button to register. After registering, you will be assigned an AAMC ID #. We strongly recommend that you place this number in a safe place, as you will need it several times during the course of this process.

Please let Dawn Roberts know if you will be applying to programs outside of ERAS. You will also need to send her the addresses to which to mail your MSPE and transcripts. For these programs, you are responsible for requesting the appropriate application materials and sending all supporting materials directly to them. Your letter writers should be supplied with mailing labels to send letters of recommendation directly to these programs.

NRMP

The National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) Match System is popularly called "The Regular Match." This is the computer program by which students and programs rank each other and then are matched according to those rankings. It is used by students to enter a match list in February and is the match system used by the majority of specialties. Early Application and Match System (aka The San Francisco Match or The "Early Match") uses both a computer-based common application system and a computer-based matching system. It is used by the following specialties:

  1. Child Neurology & Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
  2. Neurotology
  3. Ophthalmology
  4. Plastic Surgery (to enter after three years of general surgery)

Early Match

It is called the "Early Match" because the application and match schedules happen earlier than those of the "Regular Match." It is called the "San Francisco" match because the administrative offices are in San Francisco. Information about early match specialties is available on the web at www.sfmatch.org.

Urology Application and Early Match System

The Urology Match uses both a computer-based common application system and a computer-based matching system. It is also an early match, managed by the Urology Matching Program. Match registration and application information for urology are available on the web at www.auanet.org. Some urology programs now use ERAS. Be aware that some programs include the preliminary year in their process, while others require you to secure a preliminary year through NRMP.

For further information regarding the urology match contact:

The Urology Residency Matching Program
1000 Corporate Boulevard
Linthicum, MD 21090
Phone: 1-866-RING AUA (1-866-746-4282), ext. 3913
Fax: 410-689-3939
E-mail: resmatch@auanet.org 

Federal Services/Military Early Application and Match Systems

The U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy do not participate in the NRMP but make their own appointments directly. Since the number of military appointments available is insufficient for the number of candidates applying, students must participate in the NRMP simultaneously to protect themselves. The military will announce their results in time for you to withdraw from the NRMP. Please contact the appropriate branch of the Armed Services to obtain information about application deadlines and procedures.

Army

The Army will use the ERAS application system for all program applications. For further information and details about the application process, please visit www.armymedicine.army.mil.

Navy

The Navy sends students information regarding the match during Year III. Students should make sure that the Navy has their current mailing address and e-mail information. The Navy will use the ERAS application system for all PGY I applications. For further information and details about the application process, please visit www.navy.com/healthcareopportunities/medicalcorps/.

Air Force

For applications and information, visit www.af.mil/.

Canadian Early Application and Match System (CaRMS)

U.S. and Canadian students are permitted to participate in both matching programs. As the CaRMS match is run earlier, students participating in both programs must agree to accept the Canadian program to which they are matched. Their names will be automatically withdrawn from the NRMP Match if they match under the CaRMS. Those not matched by the CaRMS will remain in the NRMP Match. The CaRMS furnishes a listing of all dual participants to the NRMP for appropriate withdrawals.

To contact the Canadian match:

Canadian Resident Matching Service
2283 Saint Laurent Blvd., Suite 110
Ottawa, Ontario,
Canada K1G 5A2
Phone: (613) 237-0075
(877) CARMS-42
Fax: (613) 563-2860
E-mail: carmsmail@carms.ca 
Website: www.carms.ca 

Couples/Partners Match

There is a system by which you can enter your match lists as part of a couple. This couples match will insure a match in the same geographic area. Each partner enrolls individually in the Match and indicates in the NRMP system that they want to be in the Match as a part of a couple. The NRMP allows couples to form pairs of choices on their primary rank order lists. The couple will match to the most preferred pair of programs on the rank order lists where each partner has been offered a position. For details, check the NRMP website at: www.nrmp.org.

Shared Residency

The NRMP has a mechanism whereby a pair of applicants who wish to share a single, full-time residency position may do so through the Match, subject to the approval of residency directors. Check Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database Access (FREIDA) to see if programs you like have shared residencies listed. You can also call programs directly; many programs don't list shared residencies but will help to accommodate interested students. For details, check the NRMP website at: www.nrmp.org.